The new Working at Height Regulations came into effect on 6th April 2005. The information here is derived from technical symposiums with industry experts and Health and Safety Executive representatives. A fall arrest lanyard system has to be strong, 15kN is the most popular minimum static strength although regulations permit anchor points of 12kN . The lanyard must prevent high shock loads when deployed. Parachutists were found to be able to withstand up to 12kN impact force but this needs to be halved to take into account of less athletic personnel. Energy absorbers are designed to transfer a maximum shock load of 6kN. This assumes an average body weight of around 80kg. Very light people and children would be subjected to much higher shock loads if standard equipment were used. If your weight is considerably lighter [or heavier] than the adult norm then you should seek further advice from the equipment manufacturers. You should remain clipped on at all times. If you are moving around a structure you will need two lanyards but please note that you must never use two absorbers. A twin legged lanyard with one absorber is the correct equipment and the spare leg must never be clipped back to your harness or the absorber could be "shortcut" and high impact forces transmitted to your body. Always clip your lanyard on to a point above or level with you. A 1.5m long lanyard clipped on level with the attachment to the harness will permit a 1.5m fall. This is referred to as an "F1" fall. The same lanyard clipped on at foot level will allow a 3m fall which is referred to as a "F2" fall. Users should try to ensure that their fall will not exceed an "F1" fall. The entire lanyard [ including connectors and absorbers ] must not exceed 2m. Check ground clearance too as energy absorbers require stated minimum clearance distances. Always inspect your lanyards thoroughly before use for signs of wear, dirt and grit, UV degradation (fading), nicks and tears, and corrosion in the fittings. Failure can happen in a fraction of a second without any second chances. Clean your equipment after use and dry it before storing. IRATA is the highly regarded training body and anyone working at height should be trained to do so.
